Could I get a Straight answer re: Private vs Public network?

For a desktop PC, 'public' is the better setting, and I'll explain why in a moment. For a laptop PC, you would likely prefer the 'private' setting when you are travelling with your laptop, especially in public places, but your choice actually depends on the security of the network you are using at the time.

To begin: Both settings are secure. It wouldn't make sense for Microsoft to offer a setting that wasn't secure. You can see the difference between these two in Start > Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Advanced sharing settings

In the public setting, your PC is discoverable by other devices on your network which makes it possible for other devices on your network, like other PCs, printers, scanners, TVs, etc. to find and connect to your PC. Otherwise, you couldn't share files with other PCs or print wirelessly or cast wirelessly, as examples. As long as your network is secure, you have nothing to fear from this setting.

But when you are travelling with a laptop, you can't be sure whether your network - the network you are using at the time - is secure. In that case, you would want to use the private setting. It means you can't easily share files or print wirelessly, for example, but at least no unauthorized device on the network can see your computer.

I know live alone, so I am the only person using this PC, and the only one that has access to it.

Ah, that's what you think. At any moment, someone on the other side of the world could be inside your PC, and you'll never know it until they do something sloppy. That's why we have to keep our guard up at all times, and employ every advantage that we have.

As I explained in the previous comment.

• Public makes your device hidden from other devices.
• Private makes your device discoverable by other devices.

So, by default Windows network settings tell you to :

• Use Public network if you are on a public network.

Because by default the firewall will block all connections to your device from unknown devices that are on the public network.

• Use a Private network if you are on a Private network.

Because you are on your own secure network with all connected devices belonging to you or people you trust.

This is explained very clearly by Microsoft.

But you can change it in the Windows network settings. You can allow other devices to discover your device and connect to your device using a public or private network by enabling the permission toggle in the selected network settings.

Hi Rodrigo.

Thanks very much for your reply. I have had it setup as Private all along, but I read a couple of articles online lately that made me wonder if I should be set to Public.

The articles were quite confusing, as to me, they were comparing Private and Public, but never given a clear recommendation as to what people should be using. I agree that Private is more secure because it's not being used by others, whereas with Public IMO, that you would be allowing access to others, to your system .

Thanks again!

Cheers! 🍻🍻